Proudly Zambian InstaStoryteller

This dress was originally a Men's XL shirt that was trimmed with Zambeef Zamleathe &  turned
into a shirt dress by designer Musha and styled by Mafashio. This picture was taken
during the Livingstone leg of #ZambeefInYourTown. Photo credit PR Girl

I joined Instagram this year, and have found it to be a great way to be a visual storyteller beyond the realm of film, as well as an awesome possum way to document life in Zambia and/ or during my travels.

Twit Tuesday will have to evolve from just Twitter stuff I want to post on the blog, to curating anything on social media where I microblog, so Facebook will be included too henceforth.

Thought I would introduce my instapix through the life changing national tour that Zambeef sponsored. I always dreamed e18hteam would get to be seen by Zambians both in urban AND rural areas, as the story of the Chipolopolo is that of Zambia.  It belongs to all of her citizens and so it was only right I find a way for them to see it.  The sponsorship ensured that a cinetruck took it to them on the big screen for free!  I got to travel the country again, and during my sojourns, this peripatetic turned amateur photographer documented life around Zambia.  I also fulfilled a personal goal of visiting all ten provinces, as during my stint as TV Presenter, I only managed to get my total up to eight. I finally made it to Western and Luapula Provinces. It was a real privilege, and the warmth of the people and their embracing of the film with open arms will stay with me forever.

Hard to do, but I picked my favourite photo from each leg of the trip:

Kabwe, Central Province

One of my fav moments at #Kabwe #ZambeefInYourTown #e18hteam #dibili #boostele. This man stopped on his way to deliver bread to watch the film. There are some "hungry hippos" out there 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 #Zambia #Zambian #Africa #African #colour #colourful #town #city #scene #bicycle #breadwinner #sidetracked #delivery #crowd #blue #sky #bluesky #sunshine #travelnoire

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 6, 2015 at 8:10am PDT

Chingola, Copperbelt Province (Kopala)

One of my fav moments at #Kabwe #ZambeefInYourTown #e18hteam #dibili #boostele. This man stopped on his way to deliver bread to watch the film. There are some "hungry hippos" out there 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 #Zambia #Zambian #Africa #African #colour #colourful #town #city #scene #bicycle #breadwinner #sidetracked #delivery #crowd #blue #sky #bluesky #sunshine #travelnoire

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 6, 2015 at 8:10am PDT

Kitwe, Copperbelt Province (Kopala)

#nofilters kids #pelliefun with a #wheelbarrow in #Kitwe #Zambia. Which kid didn't do this as a child? Was always upset when the gardener was actually using it to his job he he he. #proudlyzambian #zambia #zambian #africa #african #colour #color #colourful #colorful #scene #nostalgia #memories #kidsplay #kids #children #blue #sky #bluesky #sunshine #sand #amateur #travel #travelnoire #photography #instapic

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 8, 2015 at 1:09am PDT

Kaoma, Western Province (Kwa Hae)

Zambian ingenuity at its finest. Classic toy made from recycled materials. Love how kids find a way to play with what they have available to them. #zambia #zambian #creativity #creative #kaoma #colourful #colorful #scene #kidsplay #kids #toy #green #recyled #truck #roadtrip #travel #travelnoire #amateurphotography #amateur #photo #photography #instapicture #instapic #filters

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 14, 2015 at 5:58am PDT

Mongu, Western Province (Kwa Hae)

#PellieFun You want @ZambeefPlc? I'll show you zam beef...😆 Visited a cattle corral #feedingthenation in #Mongu. Finding ways to have fun while on the job. #proudlyzambian #cattle #blackandwhite #amateurphotography #photo #photography #instapicture #instapic #filters #zambia #africa #african #travelnoire #travel #roadtrip #workhardplayhard

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 15, 2015 at 3:06am PDT

Choma, Southern Province

#Zambia is on the rise. #Choma Mall expanding as #rural development catching up. #proudlyzambian #zambian #africa #african #development #architecture #steel #gate #king #crown #travel #travelling #roadtrip #travelnoire #amateurphotography #amateur #photo #photography #instapicture #instapic #blackandwhite #filters

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 21, 2015 at 4:15am PDT

Livingstone, Southern Province

#tbt #pelliefun The awesome #VictoriaFalls in #August #Zambia. You can walk along the Falls at this time of year due to low water levels. Whatever time of year you visit, it is an amazing sight and a memorable experience! #proudlyzambian #vicfalls #mosioatunya #africa #waterfalls #falls #cascade #beautiful #amazing #awesome #spiritual #travel #livingstone #roadtrip #travelnoire #amateurphotography #amateur #photo #photography #instapic #instapicture #filters #throwbackthursday

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 27, 2015 at 3:58am PDT 

Chipata, Eastern Province

#Luangwa river bridge crossing on Great East Road linking #Lusaka to #Chipata and Eastern Province. Dry season is upon us. #dry #river #bed #hills #stark #hot #zambia #africa #nature #scene #naturalbeauty #sunshine #blue #sky #travel #roadtrip #travelnoire #traveller #amateurphotography #amateur #photo #photography #instapic #instapicture #filters

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Aug 30, 2015 at 5:34am PDT

Mansa, Luapula Province

The road is ruled by pedestrians in #Samfya. Have to hoot to get them off the road in #Luapula Province. #proudlyzambian #zambia #zambian #rural #road #life #people #dusk #scene #africa #african #travel #roadtrip #travelnoire #traveller #amateurphotography #amateur #photo #photography #instapic #instapicture #nofilters

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Sep 4, 2015 at 9:30am PDT

Lusaka, Lusaka Province (Capital City of Zambia)

#tbt I call this #ProudlyZambian #tree #tamanga #Lusaka style. While in #Chilenje for #ZambeefInYourTown #e18hteam walked around and came across this sign. Can't afford a billboard or a print/ TV ad? In #Zambia that doesn't stop us from getting the word out. We have obliging trees everywhere... #africa #lsk #city #hustle #signage #development #treelover #naturelovers #travel #roadtrip #travelnoire #traveller #amateurphotography #amateur #photo #photography #instapic #instapicture #filters #throwbackthursday

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Sep 17, 2015 at 4:15am PDT

Chongwe, Lusaka Province

#nofilters #Zambia rural life revolves around trees. Umuti are sure to be near any gathering point, marking a place of congregation . Did you in Bemba umuti also means medicine. Trees are much revered as they provide shelter, sustenance and health. #proudlyzambian #africa #rural #life #scene #colourful #peoplewatching #red #flower #tree #nature #naturelover #naturalbeauty #natureporn #spiritual #soulfood #blue #sky #sun #amateur #colour #photo #photography #instapic #instapicture #bemba

A photo posted by Ngosa Whoopi Chungu (@whoops.c) on Sep 20, 2015 at 8:38am PDT 

For more pictures check out me out on Instagram and live tweeted documentation of trip has been curated in #ZambeefInYourTown.

For more about my journey this year and to keep up-to-date with everything going on with the film, as well my other projects in Zambia and globally, follow me on Facebook  too.

e18hteam: #PTHerd rewards and #DidYouKnoWednesday

I started writing a coupla weeks ago about the documentary film I am co-producing with Spanish partner-in-crime Juan Rodriguez-Briso.  There I began my impassioned recording of why I started my production company Purple Tembo Media and how the Chipolopolo's AFCON 2012 win was the catalyst to me pursuing that thread of my storytelling dreams. I always knew I would be some kind of filmmaker.  Funnily enough, I became a writer before that, something I never thought I would never have the discipline for.  Blogging started me on a journey when its path had been illuminated in my mind after I decided I wanted to create proudly Zambian and positively African content with mpamvu (literally power, here I mean umph or as MIghTy African would say vim he he he) in 2010 after completing my masters.

So what is the film about?

It is the universal story of the underdog, forever underestimated, but never discourage to achieve the very best when challenged.  Akin to folklore of old, it is a recounting of the age-old message urging us to continue to fight in order to reach the heights of success.  This is an epic sanctioned by divine decree, that ensured nothing would stand in the way of pure intentions, hard work, determination, and ultimately, destiny.  This is the emotional and now legendary football journey of an African nation, spanning five decades.  It is the path taken by a country bound together by a tragedy that shook the nation, which then spurred them to honour their fallen heroes by playing the beautiful game at the highest level.  This is the recounting of Zambia's rich football history, derailed by the tragic plane crash off the coast of Gabon in 1993, only to be triumphant in the same country at the momentus AFCON 2012 tournament.  This is the opportunity to record, preserve and share  this amazing story with the world.  This is the documentary film telling the story of the unrelenting and victorious Chipolopolo: the Copper Bullets aka the Zambian National Football Team.

So you are hooked by my verbose, superfluous and dramatically African introduction eh? Want to know more?

Created by current @PurpleTembo #PTHerd Prince Sam

If you follow these instructions you are not a twit, in fact you are rather smart.  Now you can keep up to date with the film, find out why it is called e18hteam (pronouced eighteam), when it will be released and where it will be showing.  Every hump day you'll enjoy #DidYouKnoWednesday with facts about Zambia, the Chipolopolo, football and of course the documentary.

Mutanda Falls in #Solwezi #Zambia is beautiful and shallow enough to stand in and fish! #DidYouKnoWednesday #e18hteam http://t.co/jnejxbcCYI
— e18hteam (@e18hteam) August 20, 2014

Go one step further and join the Purple Tembo Herd race and you will be rewarded.  Help spread the word about the film and who knows what royal titles and gifts will be bestowed upon you.

Post by Purple Tembo Media.

Recap: Like and follow e18hteam, like and follow Purple Tembo.  Good things come to kind people.  Here is a cheat sheet to help you out.

I thank you for liking, commenting, sharing, following, tweeting and retweeting in advance xo

Woolgather Wednesday: Kindness Ate The Quail

Kafue Bridge,  Kafue, Zambia
© George Mutale

I hear you say what ate the what? And what has that got to do with this very eeriely arresting and beautiful image of a bridge?! What drugs am I smoking right?  Have no fear, this is Woolgather Wednesday: hallucination, rumination and seriously profound excogitation from interesting angles, not LSD trips and caterpillar hookah smoking Alice in Wonderland style high-ness, is the order of the day.  All will be revealed - trust me and skip (yes skip like a little girl in afropuffs) with me down head trippy lane.  I promise I will take you out of Kansas and all the way to Oz safely and responsibly without the need for sparkly red pumps or hallucinogens he he he.

So let me start at the beginning.  I was having a conversation with my Mummy about what it takes to do the right thing, to be a good person,  to live life with purpose, to affect the world positively and to interact with people personally and professionally without getting burned.  One thing led to another and she uttered a Bemba proverb to comfort me: 

Uluse lwalile inkwale: Kindness ate the quail.

I, like I am assuming you, was like what does that mean??!!! Niceness or kindness ate what? I didn't even know inkwale meant to add to my already discombobulated mind. I really did not need to be confused, I do that quite well on my own. My mother then let me know what it meant and I was like Mummy what drugs have you been smoking?! She hushed me and proceed to tell me that the proverb stems from the story of insoka yalile inkwale: the snake that ate the quail.  I shall now enlighten you, and yes you will feel I should have prefaced the proverb with story, but it is the Zambian and African way to do things backwards and in circles to deliver sage words and concepts for growth and learning - the old confuse to enlighten jedi mind trick:

There was a snake that was in distress and a quail walked by and seeing another in need, decided to be a Good Samaritan and helped the snake out.  Once the snake was out of danger, instead of thanking the quail, it proceeded to have the bird for dinner. Yah, the snake ate the quail! 

The moral of the story is that you can be kind, but that doesn't mean you will be rewarded for your benevolence.  In fact, you can be taken advantage of and end up worse for wear. So in the end you can feel like you have been eaten like the quail after you direct your kindness to snake-like people and/ or situations.

I know, DEEEEEEEEP man!  And if I ever meet that snake I have some choice words for it and will not hold back with the expletives...

Okay, so what has this got to do with bridges? Well I thought about this and I realised that lately I have repeatedly allowed myself to be eaten like the quail that was eaten by the snake.  Good thing is that I have recognised the situations and people that have contributed to the feasting, taken responsibility for my part, learnt from my actions and thankfully also am determined to rise like the phoenix a better person and wiser for it and so have come to this conclusion:

The important thing is to be kind to yourself and that is not selfish, it is paramount to survival. And also be kind for kindness sake and don't expect anything in return which, is also being kind to you as being a good person is never bad.  Expecting things that are not guaranteed however is not being good to yourself, that's just setting yourself up to be unnecessarily hurt.   If you are kind to yourself and for kindness' sake, you are less likely to become the quail and be eaten by the snakes out there.  And sometimes that means letting bridges burn: letting people fall out of your life and cutting off avenues for negativity and problems from elsewhere to bleed into your life.  

Sometimes you need to be cruel to be kind because being nice allows the snakes to crawl in with malice, to writhe and wreak havoc in your life. And you don't want to be nice: nice people are too concerned with people liking them and not with whether they are doing good or are good.  Be a troll sometimes: if people do not measure up to pay the toll and/ or if the situation you are faced with will cost you more, under no circumstances should you allow passage for any of that to play a part in your life.  Being kind to yourself means you will be kind to others because you will be happier, and wont want to hiss and lash out with the venom that comes with being bitter from what you let into your life.  When kindness eats you, you become a snake too.  

So don't be a quail, or a snake - be a troll and guard your life's bridges with kindness.

I have vowed to only write about things if I can put a positive spin on them, especially if there is negativity or criticism involved.  And when I write motivational posts, many times it is to hold myself to being better as once out there, I can shame myself when I do not honour my convictions and take my own advice.  And if there is anything that anyone else can gather from it, that's an added bonus.

I hope that this post is as kind to you as the woolgathering sojourn from my mind, to transforming my thoughts into the 1s and 0s I have written and you have just read, has been kind to me ;}

Siavonga Music Festival

Sundown, Siavonga aboard the
Southern Belle, Easter 2013

I spent last Easter on the Southern Belle, Protea's Hotel Boat on Lake Kariba in Siavonga.  I enjoyed a coupla sunsets on the water downing some rather tasty rainbow coloured sundowner cocktails.  This year,  to tempt me to make the trip down again on Easter weekend is the Siavonga Music Festival.

On Saturday, the Festival organisers gave us a taste of what is in store with a preview of some of their acts at Arcades Mall in Lusaka, including the classic Zed sound of recent Zambian Music Award winner Mumba Yachi, and Cactus Agony, an artist whom I have featured on the blog before.  The only disappointment was not getting a taste of what Pompi has in store, another artist already featured on the blog.  

Enjoy a song each from each of these artists and for more information about the Siavonga Music Festival in April, visit their website and for more Zed Music check out the music and African music and tag on MbA:

Mama Monday: Africa is THE CONTINENT Part II - THE MOTHERLAND

© Sandra Shanungu

I was watching Oprah visiting India and meeting with Deepak Chopra when as they greeted each other he welcomed her to the motherland.  Huh? What the....???????!!!!!!!!!!!! I thought to myself, dost my ears deceive me?

Emmmmmmmmmm, CORRECTION!  There is only one motherland! Where it all begun. On THE continent. Yep that is right AFRICA....THE ORIGINAL and ONLY MOTHERLAND!  

There I was thinking I had educated y'all on this.  In Deepak Chopra's defence he had made that error long before I blogged about Africa being the continent last month and clearly before this post, otherwise I wouldn't be writing it. Well I would eventually but not inspired by this happenstance.  Why is Africa THE motherland?  For those of you who weren't born on African soil or have never been afforded the privilege of disembarking a plane and experiencing her warm, welcoming, comforting, soulful embrace, let me enlighten you...

Kalambo Falls, Zambia
©  MbA

Life began in Africa.  Evidence is repeatedly found in beautifully majestic places like this.  Near sources of water with nearby caves.  And just look at how verdant and lush the landscape is.  Africa nourishes.  If that is not motherly I have no idea what is!

©  Griffin Shanungu

Africa is home to the largest land animal, the elephant.  Elephants live in a matriarchal society.  And even though patriarchy exists in Africa, I challenge you to argue with an elephant and come out alive.  It's more likely you will  be stampeded.  Elephants know all as they never forget.  I rest my case.  

Whenever something bad in the world happens in movies, particularly some sort of Armageddon, Africa is protected somehow.  We are happily overlooked and therefore spared.  People always know if they can get to the continent in time, they can start anew.  We are protected by the continent that is the source of life.  Obliterate the continent, obliterate life!

Wolverine is protected by his Adimantium skeleton, a metal found on the continent.  Mothers protect so that you land safely.  Wolverine gets into so much ish, especially as he lives through the ages, and the motherland has ensured he is better equipped to live his many lives.  Btw, ignore the portrayal of Lagos and rural Nigeria in the movie for your own sanity so you can enjoy this marvel (yes I did he he he ;}). And don't throw Kryptonite falling on the continent and being Superman's Achilles heel to refute this claim.  Kryptonite fell on African soil so it could be safe-guarded.  It is stolen by Lex Luther according to the Christopher Reeves version film.  See - the motherland protects, but what can you do when a psycho comes and pillages?!

To be further enlightened, read Part 1 and enjoy these two songs that further illustrate why Africa is THE continent and THE motherland ;} 

TODAY 16:00 CAT On Internet Radio

Will be talking about my work researching, script-writing and presenting Today with Zamtel show: Zambian history, culture and traditions.

If you missed the show live, audio has been posted here:
Diasporan Truth -Ngosa Chungu | Business Forum- Rabson Tembo 01/26 by ZambiaBlogTalkRadio | Blog Talk Radio

This Is Ridiculous!

The Christiano Ronaldo baby mama daddy story just gets stranger by the minute.  Why does he have black toenails? I think my sister and I should stop digging for clues because we just find nonsense instead!

Another bit of ridiculousness!! Nadal passed by the Victoria Falls on his way to watch La Furia Roja!!! Of course he would have to visit my country while I am stuck overseas! I am not a happy puppy bob, not a happy puppy.

And all of you who know my love for Nadal please stop telling me about this.  This coupled with not being able to be in SA for the World Cup has completely ruined my summer.  Je suis tres upset.